32 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



of the British Museum, "with outstretched, drooping 

 wings, and this great scarlet bladder under their heads, 

 is a most remarkable sight. When a hen bird," 

 he continues, "approaches the tree, the males utter a 

 peculiar cry, a sort of 'wow- wow- wow-wow,' and clat- 

 ter their beaks like castanets, at the same time shaking 

 the wings." The Frigate Bird is probably the strong- 

 est flyer of any bird in the world. It is able to ride 

 out the fiercest storms, and has been seen during 

 heavy gales soaring quietly in the air, without any 

 flapping of the wings. In shape it is peculiar, having 

 extremely long, pointed wings, a long, forked tail, a 

 strong, hooked bill, with a pouch like the Pelican. 

 The East Indians make use of this bird as a Carrier 

 Pigeon. 



The Tropic Bird, or Boatswain Bird, is a native 

 of the tropical portions of the Pacific and Atlantic 

 Oceans, and measures about 40 inches in length; but 

 this includes the long tail, which has a length of about 

 26 inches. See Plate 37, Fig. 216. 



Altogether six species are known, of which three are 

 American. Tropic Birds are true denizens of the 

 ocean, often being met with many hundreds of miles 

 from the land. Their flight is rapid and sweeping. 

 Like the Gannet, they procure their prey by diving, 

 often from an immense height, in the air. On land, 

 as might be expected, they are greatly at a disadvan- 

 tage, and walk with a shuffling gait. Though the 

 majority of the species are white, with black pencil- 

 lings, one is remarkable for the exquisite orange colour 

 of its plumage. 



